Shloka 64
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
विव्याध सायकै: पार्थश्चतुर्भि: पाण्डुनन्दन: । धनुष कट जाने और घोड़ों तथा सारथिके मारे जानेपर कर्णको पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनने चार बाणोंद्वारा घायल कर दिया ।। ६३ ई || हताश्चात् तु रथात् तूर्णमवप्लुत्य नरर्षभ:
sañjaya uvāca | vivyādha sāyakaiḥ pārthaś caturbhiḥ pāṇḍunandanaḥ | hataś cāt tu rathāt tūṛṇam avaplutya nararṣabhaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kemudian Arjuna, putera Pāṇḍu, putera Pṛthā, menikam Karṇa dengan empat anak panah. Sesudah itu, sang “lembu jantan di antara manusia” melompat turun dengan pantas dari keretanya—(bersambung).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores kṣatriya resolve in war: a warrior continues to act despite setbacks. Ethically, it reflects the epic’s portrayal of duty-driven combat where persistence and courage are praised even amid destructive circumstances.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna strikes Karṇa with four arrows. Immediately after, the hero (described as ‘best of men’) swiftly leaps down from his chariot, indicating a sudden change in the fight’s situation and setting up the next action in the sequence.